RuJohn Foundation Donates US$50,000 for Pavilion Refurbishment

Dr. Glen Laman

Text Size

-

+

reset

The pavilion is the sports center of the Kingston College North Street Campus. But over the years, this two-storey building with approximately 5,000 square feet of space has deteriorated to the extent that it can no longer efficiently or effectively serve the needs for which it was designed.

Practically all windows and doors are broken. The shower and bathroom facilities do not function. Broken benches and shelves adorn the change room. The flooring is broken and in really bad condition. The ceiling is in deplorable condition and rusted steel bars are protruding from the first floor slab. In short, the building is in an appalling state and urgently needs work.

Audley Hewett of the Florida chapter is leading the charge to raise the necessary funds to complete the renovation. In addition, Robert Kelly, the newly appointed plant manager at KC has been able to reduce the estimated costs to J$7.5 million from J$12 million after a review of the overall design.

The majority of the needed financing is now in place thanks to a generous US$50,000 donation from the RuJohn Foundation. The RuJohn Foundation was established in 2003 by KCOB Byron Bachelor and his wife Ingrid, in honor of Ruth and John Tulloch, Ingrid’s parents. Byron attended KC during the 1970s and ran track in Class I specializing in the 400 meters. The foundation previously donated funds for refurbishing the basketball courts at KC.

A KCOB technical committee was tasked with developing a plan to restore this much need structure to a useful state. The plan calls for refurbishment of the ground floor initially.